Clever sprinter Tavisan made it a successful entry to Queensland racing with a dominant win at the Sunshine Coast for new trainer Kris Lees. Tavisan was previously prepared in Victoria by Mick Price and Michael Kent Junior. Following an unplaced effort at Rosehill, the Tavistock gelding was sent north to refuel in the paddock during the warm Queensland winter. Tavisan was perfectly placed first up in Class 5 set weights conditions. “It was the right time to bring him to Queensland. Our set weights races are ideal for quality horses like Tavisan to ease their way into racing here,” said Grant Morgan of Ontrack. “This race came up at exactly the right time to give him the chance at a kill first up and get his confidence back. “He is still eligible for one more Class 6 race so we will just have to see if we wait for one of those or if he goes back to open company now,” said Morgan. Kris Lees was selected as Tavisan’s new trainer to take advantage of his dual state operation in Queensland and New South Wales. “He’s a tricky horse to place so we felt that having access to both Queensland and New South Wales with Kris was going to increase our ability to place him in the right races,” said Morgan. In form rider Andrew Mallyon gave a polished display aboard Tavisan continuing his strong combination as first choice rider for the Lees’ Queensland base. Mallyon was also seen to advantage on another recent Ontrack winner in Calcareous, who scored at Grafton for the ex Victorian hoop during the July carnival. Tavisan’s record now stands at $401,427 in prizemoney with 6 wins and 8 placings from 29 starts. His CV includes stakes placings in the Group 2 Australia Stks at Moonee Valley (1200m), Group 2 Danehill Stks (1200m) at Flemington, Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield and the Listed Doveton Stks (1000m) at Sandown. Tavisan was purchased as a yearling by Grant Morgan of Ontrack for $135,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale from the Hallmark Stud draft. Congratulations to winning owners Adrian Albrecht, Jim Lagos, Lewis Prince, Eric Newsome, Dr David Worthley, Vin Harink, Mark Snowden, Mark Ostermeyer, Neil Evison, Mark Horn & Haydn Stjernqvist, Lisa Saxton, Bebe Mawer, Executive Racing Club (Manager Jamie Haimes) & S M C Racing (Manager Michael Szkwarek). Photos courtesy of Trackside Photography: www.tracksidephotography.com Prescott still firing at age 73 by Grant Morgan Newmarket training legend Sir Mark Prescott has landed another Group 1 winner with Frankel mare Alphinista capturing the 131st running of the prestigious Longines Grosser Preis von Berlin. The evergreen 73 year-old Prescott recently celebrated the 50 year anniversary of his first winner. His first group 1 winner came with Pivotal in the 1996 Nunthorpe Stakes at York. Sir Mark is a cornerstone feature of the OnTrack Royal Ascot Tour, which is highlighted by a personal tour of Prescott’s historic Heath House Stables at Newmarket. On the most recent OnTrack Royal Ascot tour in 2019, we were also fortunate to have Sir Mark’s company at our memorable feature dinner at the Jockey Club Rooms in Newmarket, with fellow trainers Marco Botti, Stephen Gray (Singapore) and Toby and Trent Edmonds. An amazing raconteur on a wide range of topics, Sir Mark also has a colourful history in coursing and boxing. It is an absolute privilege to be able to spend time with him. Sir Mark’s involvement in the OnTrack tour comes thanks to our European Bloodstock agent contact Stuart Boman of Blandford Bloodstock. Stuart has co-hosted our last two Royal Ascot tours and is currently working to secure two new European imports for our clients to race in Australia. Boman has enjoyed good success in recent times with star import Zaaki. Alphinista’s granddam Albanova was also prepared by Prescott to win the Grosser Preis von Berlin for wealthy Sweedish born owner breeder Kirsten Rausing and her Lanwades Stud at Newmarket. Frankel has now reached 18 individual Group 1 winners, including two in Australia with Hungry Heart (2021 Vinery Stks at Rosehill and ATC Oaks at Randwick) and Converge (2021 JJ Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm). Another popular feature of the OnTrack Royal Ascot Tour, is a visit to Juddmonte Farms Banstead Manor Stud at Newmarket, the home of Frankel. The next Ontrack Royal Ascot Tour is planned for June 2023. Almost $29m in additional money will be ploughed into Queensland racing prizemoney and infrastructure over the next two years with officials reaching a decision on how best to spend the recent windfall as a result of the Point of Consumption Tax.
A focus on everyday racing will see an additional $2000 added to every maiden race at TAB meetings at metropolitan, provincial and country level while all non-TAB races will have their prizemoney boosted from $7400 to $8500. All Listed races will see their prizemoney boosted from $125,000 to $130,000. An additional $1.2m has been added to the highly successful Queensland Thoroughbred Incentive Scheme (QTIS) which will see bonuses for all southeast Queensland provincial races lifted from $12,000 to $14,000. Greyhound racing will see boosts of $1.7m to prizemoney while harness receives $900,000 along with $800,000 per year injected into the QBRED breeding scheme. “It will be delivered through increased prizemoney from 1 September 2021, along with infrastructure grants and improved club funding and allow us to support more jobs as part of Queensland’s plan for economic recovery from COVID-19,” Racing Minister Grace Grace said. “The Investment Plan will benefit almost 40,000 Queensland participants.” After announcing increases to summer and winter carnivals, Racing Queensland chairman Steve Wilson said there was a focus on supporting the lower levels of racing in the Sunshine State. “It is important that we provide all participants with the confidence to continue to work and invest within the Queensland racing industry,” he said. “As a result, we are providing strategic funding for our three codes, with a strong emphasis on commercial competitiveness at the grassroots and making Queensland attractive for all participants.” The governing body will kick in an additional $3.5m for key infrastructure projects which includes on-course stabling at a number of race clubs. Words courtesy of Racing Queensland & Racenet |
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